CRYPTOWARS: THE GOVERNMENTS STRIKE BACK
Abstract: This lecture explores the current state of the conflict between government authorities and the private sector over encryption, surveillance, and national security.
The so-called *Cryptowars*, which began in the 1990s, saw governments attempting to control encryption technologies to maintain law enforcement and intelligence capabilities. While the first round ended with strong encryption becoming widely available, recent years have witnessed a resurgence of state efforts to regain access to encrypted communications, marking a new phase in the struggle.
We will examine key developments in modern cryptographic regulation, including the legal and policy battles surrounding end-to-end encryption, law enforcement access (such as the debate over “backdoors”), and the broader implications for cybersecurity, civil liberties, and digital sovereignty, and will discuss landmark cases, legislative efforts including the European Union’s proposals to regulate encrypted messaging, and the recent Apple vs UK case.
By the end of this session, participants will gain a comprehensive understanding of the legal, technical, and ethical dimensions of the contemporary *Cryptowars*, equipping them to critically assess the future of encryption policy in an era of heightened digital surveillance and geopolitical tensions.
Speakers: Andrea Monti is a lawyer, academic and high-tech journalist. He teaches cybersecurity, privacy and digital identity at the Sapienza University (Rome) and is the author of several books on hacking, encryption and national security. His columns have appeared in Wired.it, MIT Technology Review Italia and Italian Tech. His next book on personal identity and the technology of information is expected to be published by Routledge by the end of 2025.
Affiliation: University of Pescara.
Registration: Students are not required to register for this event.